In November, NUS President Shaima Dallali was ousted due to
‘significant breaches’ of policy, surrounding severe
anti-Semitism allegations including the former President making
reference to a historic massacre of Jews in a tweet.
Written Questions from the Welsh Conservatives have revealed the
extent of the involvement of the NUS with the Labour Government
in Cardiff Bay, including over £50,000 in funding, participation
in the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and regular meetings with
the Labour Education Minister.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Minister, said:
“Labour Ministers have insisted on bringing in their Union
paymasters to teach lessons in Welsh schools. Now they are
engaging with and funding an organisation plagued by
anti-Semitism as part of their Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan. You
couldn’t make this up.
“The Labour Government have proven time and time again that they
are willing to let organisations that have no business being
involved in areas of our education system to have central roles
in it.
“We have seen a real terms cut in the Welsh education budget,
widening the per-pupil funding gap with England, resulting in the
worst GCSE and PISA results in Britain. The Labour Government
should be focussed on delivering better results in our schools
and not engaging with tarnished organisations to discuss
‘anti-racism strategies’.”
The Written Question, by , revealed that the NUS has
received funding from the Welsh Government totalling £52,500
during the last 5 years. The Labour Education Minister has also
held meetings with both NUS Presidents this year, including the
ousted Shaima Dallali.
, who is a Member of the
Children, Young People and Education Committee, added:
“Despite the clear indications of anti-Semitism at the top of the
NUS, with this scandal being just another in a long list, the NUS
clearly can do no wrong in the eyes of Labour.
“I cannot believe that the Labour Government have not
unequivocally condemned the NUS, and that they insist on engaging
with an organisation with such a terrible record.
“What kind of message does this send to Jewish students across
the country?”
ENDS/
Note to editors: Link to the NUS
President’s ousting story can be found here. Also attached is the
WQ responses from the Education Minister.
